(a) whether UNESCO has taken a serious note of the crude changes made by the Railways in the Toy Train in Darjeeling, the Century old steam engines have been partially replaced with diesel locomotives; and
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereon? ANSWER
(MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS) (SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)
(a) & (b) Darjeeling – Himalayan Railways (DHR) has already
been awarded a world heritage site by the UNESCO. However,
on the issue of introduction of two diesel locomotives for
operation on the DHR, UNESCO has been informed that in order
to supplement the existing fleet of steam locomotives which
are varying in age from 72 years to 111 years, a decision
was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the Asian
Institute of Transport Development, for partial
dieselisation of long distance service on DHR between new
Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, restricting the steam services to
shorter sections between Darjeeling and Kurseong. This was
done to give relief to the old steam locomotives and to
preserve them for posterity. The Government has further
taken a decision to procure three modern state-of-the-art
oil fired steam locomotives to supplement the existing fleet
of locomotives on DHR.